Christians of Iraq

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Updated list of Opression and Murders of the Assyrians in Iraq Not reported by the International Press

---- Tense Time for Christians in Iraq Christians in the turbulent Iraq are fearful that comments by the Pope last week on Islam may spark violent retaliation. by Maria Mackay Sept. 21, 2006 Christianity Today Christians in Iraq are holding their breath as protests and violence in parts of the Middle East continue over comments made by the Pope last week on Islam. Residents attend Sunday mass at a Roman Catholic church in Baghdad September 17, 2006. The minority faith group in Iraq has managed to withstand not only the turmoils of more recent months but also the pressures of the last few centuries, all by keeping a low profile. But now they are fearful that anger among both Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims could turn into violent confrontation with churches and their followers in Iraq. “We’re not afraid of our neighbourhoods turning against us, because we've lived with them for generations,” said 35-year-old Christian grocery shop owner Iskandar in Baghdad, according to Reuters. “But our fear is that the al Qaeda types will start targeting churches again, like they have with Shi'ite mosques." Christians in Iraq remain anxious that the Pope’s comments on Islam have made their lives less safe, and some have even joined with their Muslim neighbours in calling the remarks offensive. "We, Christians and Muslims, have lived together for thousands of years in this city," said Qais abu Saimon, a Christian in Mosul, an ethnically and religiously mixed northern city with one of the country's largest Christian communities. "Anything that offends them offends us also." Uttor, a nun in the same city said: "If I were sitting there when the Pope was delivering his speech, I would ask him not to talk about this subject because it is very sensitive." The fledgling government in Iraq was quick to urge the Muslim majority in the country not to take revenge on members of the Christian community following the Pope’s remarks. “ call on all those who love God's prophets not to carry out actions that will harm our Christian brothers here," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told state television on Saturday. "There were kings that carried the cross and committed crimes under the cross. But we do not hold Christianity or its followers responsible for these actions, for they are acts of individuals." And so far the appeals for calm have been taken on board; none of the bombings and outbreaks of violence that have killed hundreds this week appear to be acts of retaliation directed specifically at Christians. That does not mean, however, that the main Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim parties have remained silent on the comments of the Pope. They have instead chosen to issue potentially inflammatory denunciations along the lines that the Pope’s comments are an attack on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Meanwhile, around 150 demonstrators gathered in the predominantly Shi’ite Basra where they burned an effigy of the Pope on Monday, while a number of churches have also reported vandalism. In the last two decades, the Christian population has continued to dwindle and now stands at around 1 million mostly Catholic Christians – a considerable drop from the 1.4 million in 1987. One Christian member of parliament, Yonadam Kanna, spoke out against the Pope for making his comments but also criticised Muslim leaders for their potentially inflammatory responses. But Kanna does not see any danger from ordinary Iraqis. If there is anyone to fear it is only the Islamic extremists who don’t need much more of a reason to attack. "The extremists are always looking for an excuse to kill people anyway, so the Christian community doesn't expect the violence against it to get any worse."

Who are the Christians of Iraq? Ealool = September Tense Time for Christians in Iraq Sep. 24, 06 Turkey invites Assyrian and Armenian dignitaries to meal that breaks daily Muslim fast. Sep. 24, 06 Dutch Lawmaker May Remove Assyrian Genocide Reference in Report on Turkey Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad; 1 Dead, 17 Injured Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian Police Officer Murdered in Mosul Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian-Swedish journalist investigates the arrest of the Assyrian-Georgian General Sept. 21, 06 Muslims react to the speech of Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 20, 06 Iraq: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Sept. 19, 06 Fear Strikes Iraq's Christians Over Pope Words Sept. 19, 06 Assyrian Cultural Day Sept. 19, 06 When Iraqi Christians Vanish, Locals Pay the Price Sept. 18, 06 Dozens Dead in Kirkuk Bombings Sept. 17, 06 Book Exhibit in Baghdeda Iraq Sept. 17, 06 Second Assyrian Christian Killed in Retaliation for Pope's Remarks Sept. 17, 06 The Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Communities in the Late Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey Sept. 16, 06 'I Felt God Was With Me,' Says Released Assyrian Priest' Sept. 15, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 15, 06 Rosie Malek - Yonan Documentary, My Assyrian Nation on the Edge Sept. 14, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 14, 06 Kirkuk: The potential spark for civil war Sept. 14, 06 Sabri Atman in Sweden Sept. 14, 06 Assyrian Candidate Gains Republican Endorsement Sept. 13, 06 Priest Abducted in Baghdad Was Threatened and Tortured Sept. 13, 06 Assyrians Accuse Kurdish Authorities of Discrimination Sept. 12, 06 Priest Kidnapped in Baghdad Released Sept. 12, 06 Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Assyrian, Armenian genocide Sept. 10, 06 Rosie Malek - Younan; The Assyrian Woman of the Year Sept. 10, 06 Lebanese Bishops Chastise Hizbullah, Back Siniora Sept. 6, 06 A Feast Awaits At Annual Assyrian Festival Sept. 6, 06 Prominent Assyrian Christian Leaves Iraq. Says Work Situation 'Intolerable' Sept. 5, 06 Turkey's terror against Christians in Midyat Sept. 4, 06 Syria; Sanctuary for Iraq's Displaced Christians Sept. 3, 06 August = Tubbakh Assyrians honour the Lt General Sir Stanley Savige KBE CB DSO MC ED August 31,06 Assyrian archaeologist resigns amid threats by the fundamentalists August 31, 06 Assyrians: from Bebar Khan to Saddam Hussein (a new book) August 28, 06 Donny George of Iraq's State Board of Antiquity, Heritage Flees to Syria August 28, 06 A New Film by Lina Yakubova August 27, 06 PM Maliki urges tribal unity in Iraq August 27, 06 Lebanese Bishops Appeal for a Stop to the Christian Exodus August 24, 06 Iraqi Christians Caught in the Crossfire August 23, 06 Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australian Chapter Meeting in Canberra August 23, 06 Iraqi Christians on Edge After Priest's Kidnapping August 23, 06 The Secrets Of Mustafa Barzani In KGB Archives August 23, 06 Pope urges release of priest in Iraq August 20, 06 Heading Toward an (Inevitable) War in Kirkuk August 20, 06 TWO CHALDEAN PRIESTS KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD August 18, 06 Confiscation of the Assyrian villages by the Kurds August 18, 06 The Kurdish Democratic Experiment: an Assyrian Tragedy August 17, 06 Assyrians Experience Slow Cultural Revival In Southeastern Turkey August 17, 06 Lebanese Bishops Call for Single National Leadership August 16, 06 Lebanese Cardinal Concerned About Christian Exodus August 16, 06 In Turkey non Muslims are listed as Foreigners August 14, 06 Murdered Assyrians in Iraq in August August 14, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? Revisited August 13, 06 Peter W. Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq' August 12, 06 Babylon the Great lives August 12, 06 We Don't Want a Proxy War in Lebanon:' Cardinal Sfeir August 10, 06 Go-ahead for dam that will drown history August 9, 06 750,000 Christians Caught in Middle East Crossfire August 8, 06 Arabist Indoctrination At Middlebury College August 8, 06 Middle-Eastern conference: from worship to ‘reunion’ August 8, 06 Hezbollah Uses Christian Villages As Shields in Missile Attacks August 7, 06 Family Pays Ransom in Iraqi Kidnapping August 7, 06 Johanns meets with Iraqi leaders to help rebuild agriculture August 6, 06 Half of all Christians have fled Iraq since 2003, says Baghdad bishop August 4, 06 Christian Persecution Groups Express Concerns for Mideast Believers August 3, 06 Assyrians and Australians will honour Captain Savige for his world war one help August 3, 06 Nuri Kino Wins Swedish Award of: good role model for the youth Aug 1, 06 July = Tammuz Let them Rape and Kill Christian Women, says Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament July 31, 06 Aramaic-English Bible Translation Draws Criticism July 27, 06 Iran bans Da Vinci Code book after 8 editions July 27, 06 Everyone has a Guardian Angel July 26, 06 Ancient Urartian inscription disappears in Iran July 26, 06 Alum to head Mooreland Hill July 24, 06 The End of Christianity in Iraq July 24, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? July 22, 2006 Residents of the Dora are told to Evacuate their homes July 21, 2006 Iraqis watch with sadness July 21, 2006 Turkey Signals It's Prepared to Enter Iraq July 19, 06 Iraqi Christians Flee Fighting July 19, 06 IRAQ AND THE KURDS: THE BREWING BATTLE OVER KIRKUK July 19, 06 Minister who learnt to manage the impossible at Baghdad July 14, 06 The Endeavour Programme July 13, 06 Sackler Gallery cancels exhibition of Iraqi gold July 10, 06 Students onto a winning football score July 9, 06 Three years after invasion, Iraqis now living in San Diego County differ in views of war July 9, 06 Kurdish Militia, Iraqi Police Terrorizing Assyrians in North Iraq July 6, 06 Kurdish Regional Government Needs Lessons in Democracy July 5, 06 An open letter to His Holiness Mor Zakka Iwaz July 3, 06 Writing Competition 2006 July 3, 06 USCIRF Testifies to Killing, Harassment of Mid east Christians July 2, 06 ‘Seyfo’ Monument Design Competition July 2, 06 June = Khzeeran Text of Rosie Malek-Yonan's testimony before the House Committee on International Relations June 30, 06 UK Assyrians Honour British MP June 30, 06 The forgotten Assyrian Christians of Mesopotamia June 28, 06 The Assyrian Empire revisited in China June 30, 06 Rosie Malek Yonan will Testify about Genocide before a Congressional Committee June 29, 06 The Plight of the Assyrians of Iraq June 28, 06 Living in the Grave Yard June 28, 06 Yes! Ashur Yousif is Dead but he Speaks June 26, 06 More Threats Against Basrawi Christians June 25, 06 Kurds Block Assyrians, Shabaks From Police Force in North Iraq June 18, 06 Iraqi Catholics in U.S. See Continuing Challenges in Their Homeland June 18, 06 Assyrian University Students Beaten By Iraqi Police June 18, 06 Assyrian leaders meet with Laura Bush June 17, 06 Assyrians in the World War I Treaties: Paris, Sèvres, and Lausanne June 16, 06 Iraqi Christians In Saskatoon Canada Want Peace in Their Homeland June 14, 06 Priceless Assyrian Relics Used for Target Practice June 14, 06 Kurd's Plan to Change the Demographics of Northern Iraq in their Favour June 14, 06 Questions assyrians would like to ask Turkey June 14, 06 Iraq's Minority Communities Look Abroad for Asylum June 13, 06 Assyrians Demonstrate in Washington, D.C.  June 12, 06 Turkey turns the confiscated church into a pornographic movie theatre June 12, 06 Continuing Persecution Renews Calls for Assyrian Safe-Haven in Iraq June 9. 06 Assyrian Demonstrations in Washington D.C. June 8, 06 Safety Zone Could Be the Answer for Iraq's Endangered Peoples June 8, 06 Assyrian Christians Object to Exclusion in Iraq Homeland June 07, 06 Welsh Members of UK Parliament Recognize the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide June 6, 06 Violence against the Assyrians in Iraq updated  June 4, 06  New Book Release by Sargon Donabed June, 2, 06  The European MP letter to the Syrian Embassy June 1, 06 Asking for Equal rights is considered racist by the Kurdish Regional Government June 1, 06 Archives March April May January- February 06